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‘Jake Paul could win’ – Nate Diaz believes YouTuber-turned-boxer can beat Anderson Silva but thinks anyone counting out the UFC legend is ‘stupid’
Nate Diaz has expressed his thoughts on the recently announced match-up between a potential future opponent in Jake Paul and fellow UFC legend Anderson Silva.
The 5-0 (4 KOs) YouTuber-turned-boxer will meet the MMA icon in an eight-round, 187lbs catchweight fight in Phoenix, Arizona on October 29 as he looks to silence the doubters of his fighting credentials.
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Paul previously shared the ring with two MMA stars, KOing both Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley but he has faced criticism for not yet fighting a professional boxer.
‘The Problem Child’ tried to rectify that earlier this year but fights against British boxing prospect Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr fell through before his August 6 event at Madison Square Garden was scrapped.
In June 2021, Silva returned to the sport of boxing after 16 years away for a sanctioned pro contest against ill-disciplined former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Silva beat Chavez Jr by split decision in Mexico in what most fight fans agreed was a monumental upset, but one of the Brazilian’s former UFC colleagues was not surprised by the result.
"I didn’t like when he fought [Julio] Cesar Chavez Jr," Diaz said at the UFC 279 pre-fight press conference.
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"I think it may have been the organization they were fighting under or whatever, but they were talking like all surprised that Anderson was beating Chavez Jr."
"And respect to Chavez Jr, Senior, all the boxing but why are they [the analysts] acting surprised that Anderson Silva is doing good? What do you even think Chavez Jr. is even doing in there with Anderson Silva?
“They considered him the GOAT in the UFC for a long time, you know? There was no appreciation for that, and I thought that was stupid.”
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Despite thinking so highly of Silva, Diaz won’t back against Paul who has a lot going for him heading into the toughest fight of his life.
“I think they’d be stupid if they’re trying to count him [Silva] out at all in this fight, but I also see that Jake Paul could win or do well too,” he added. “
“[Jake Paul] is young, motivated, strong, inspired to box dude. So, I think it makes for an interesting fight.”
Diaz is expected to leave the UFC and pursue crossover fights in boxing after facing undefeated welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 279 main event on Saturday night.
After months of back-and-forth with Paul on social media, don’t be surprised to see Diaz named as the former Disney actor's next opponent if he gets by Silva.
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